If you are building or renovating a home, you may need to use a builder, electrician, plumber, or other tradesperson.

Use licensed tradespeople

In most areas of Western Australia, builders doing building works worth $20,000 or more must be registered by the Building Commission. Some other work legally requires a licensed professional such as plumbing or electrical work.

Using licensed professionals protects you in several ways. A licensed tradesperson usually has:

• formal training and proven skills and expertise
• insurance cover for the work they do
• an industry code of conduct and professional standards to follow.

You will also have better legal options to resolve disputes with a licensed tradesperson.

Search the licence register to check if a builder or tradesperson is licensed.

Australian Consumer Law

Tradespeople and builders must also follow the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). This means their work is bound by the consumer guarantees. These include:

• Quality of work: The work must be done with acceptable care and skill.
• Fit for purpose: The materials and services must be fit for the intended purpose.
• Timely completion: The work must be completed within a reasonable timeframe.
• Contract terms: Any terms in a contract must be fair.

Protect yourself when hiring a tradesperson:

• Research: Check reviews and ask for recommendations.
• Get multiple quotes: Compare prices and services.
• Written contract: Always have a written contract detailing the work, costs, and timeframe.
• Insurance: Ensure the builder or tradesperson has the necessary insurance.

Quotes and estimates

Asking for a written quote can help you to avoid disputes.

• A quote forms a binding contract when accepted.
• An estimate is an approximate cost given before a firm quote and can change.

Written quotes should include:

• Description of work to be done. Be detailed as possible.
• List of materials to be used. Specify preferred brands, styles, colours, etc.
• Call-out fees. If the call out fee is not included in the quote you do not have to pay them.
• Any weekend or public holiday rates if required.

Check the tradesperson details:

• the tradesperson’s physical address, telephone number and registered business name
• references from their recent work

Paying deposits

Deposits should cover the builder’s initial costs to get your job started. The builder cannot ask for a deposit of more than 6.5% on building contracts valued between $7,500 and $500,000.

Insurance

The builder must take out home indemnity insurance in the owner's name for residential building work valued over $20,000. This insurance covers you if the builder becomes insolvent or dies, disappears or ceases to exist.

The builder must give you a certificate for your home indemnity insurance policy. This needs to happen before they ask you for a deposit or any other payment or start work.

Variations

You may have to pay extra charges if there your job needs more work or materials. Your contractor should contact you before continuing with the work. They should give you options and details of the extra costs.

For advice and guidance on your obligations and rights with construction contracts, see Building and Energy.

Building and Energy

Building and Energy oversee the building industry. This includes

• building
• surveying
• electrical
• gas
• painting
• plumbing

They licence tradespeople and also resolve building service and payment disputes.

They have resources for people building or renovating their home on:

• choosing a building contract
• building your home
• fences, balconies, decks, and pools
• dealing with delays
• supply chain issues and labour shortages
• price increases
• unfinished work and contractor insolvencies
• electrical, plumbing, fire, and gas safety
• painting and decorating
• bushfire and cyclone safety
• being an owner builder

If you are planning to carry out building work yourself, you may need a builder's licence. See Licensing and registration and owner-builder approval for more information.

If things go wrong

If there is a problem with the work or materials, you have several options:

• Communicate: Ask the contractor to fix the problem. Put in writing what the problem is and suggest a reasonable solution.
• Formal complaint: If dealing with the contractor doesn’t work, lodge a formal complaint with
  • Consumer Protection: for Australian Consumer Law issues
  • Building and Energy: for building, licensing and contract issues
• Legal action: As a last resort, consider taking legal action.